What can I do to fix Windows?

[Muse]

I've run Agent Ransack, a free file search utility for several years on my various computers. It's a great program, I find it a lot easier to use than Windows' file search.

Not long ago I did a fresh install of Windows 10 32bit on this laptop (Lenovo T60). AFAIK, things are working fine except for one thing. I have 3 version of Agent Ransack saved on my server including the latest, AgentRansack_864.exe. No matter which version I install, when I run the program the app launches but I can't see it. It's as if it's permanently minimized.

I contacted Agent Ransack Support and they emailed me back and in the guy's opinion, something is wrong with my Windows installation. I was skeptical at first (this was a few days ago), but now I'm thinking he was right. Before, I was getting this error:

--------------------------------------------
AgentRansack.exe - Ordinal Not Found

[X] The ordinal 31 could not be located in the dynamic link library
C:\Program1\Mythicsoft Agent Ransack\AgentRansack.exe

[OK]
--------------------------------------------

He said I should check my Windows logs, but I didn't see anything. Now I don't get that error, but the program appears to be permanently minimized.

What can I do to try to fix this?

 

[deustroop]

Is Ransack launched ? How do you know ?
Is it listed in the apps area of Task Manager/Processes ?
Are any of the application executables shortcuts ?

 

[Muse]

I did a search, went to this page:

Programs appear on the taskbar, but they won't open (or maximize) (Windows 8)

and immediately got an idea. I have dual monitors but I keep the secondary one off most of the time, I have nothing open in it. Turned it on, and yes, it was open there. So that's what was going on, the setting for where the program would appear persisted even though I'd removed the program. Funny thing is I didn't see it installed, that's why I installed it again. Maybe it was there all along. Must have been.

Anyway, neat program, free, and I recommend it highly.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I did a search, went to this page:

Programs appear on the taskbar, but they won't open (or maximize) (Windows 8)

and immediately got an idea. I have dual monitors but I keep the secondary one off most of the time, I have nothing open in it. Turned it on, and yes, it was open there. So that's what was going on, the setting for where the program would appear persisted even though I'd removed the program. Funny thing is I didn't see it installed, that's why I installed it again. Maybe it was there all along. Must have been.

Anyway, neat program, free, and I recommend it highly.

Pardon me while I chuckle a bit about this. I immerse myself in computer-building tech for various reasons, no less because I'm probably OCD. I've used my systems in ways that are just a bit off the beaten path of mass preference. So I've got one of my systems configured for gaming, HTPC and other common computer tasks. Because I want the monitor at my desk as well as the connection to the AVR->HDTV across the room, I have this two-monitor configuration, and sometimes the apps need tending for turning up on the wrong monitor, or worse -- boot up results in the main desktop appearing on the TV, and it's a bitch to sort it out. A wireless keyboard with mouse pad helps.

So yesterday, I thought I had some boot-failure problem. I had to cycle the machine about three times before I realized it was booting OK, but bringing up the logon screen behind me, leaving my desktop monitor blank.

An unnecessary application of the reset "panic" button. And I don't like "unnecessary."

 

[Muse]

So yesterday, I thought I had some boot-failure problem. I had to cycle the machine about three times before I realized it was booting OK, but bringing up the logon screen behind me, leaving my desktop monitor blank.

An unnecessary application of the reset "panic" button. And I don't like "unnecessary."

I have several times rebooted machines unnecessarily. One of my mid-tower machines is my HDTV/DVR machine (HDTV capture card on board). I have a switch that diverts the DVI signal to either the 23" desktop or my projector, which sits on a shelf on the opposite wall. There's not just that complication, but that machine has dual DVI out and the 23" monitor, keyboard and mouse share duty with a 2nd midtower via a KVM switch and the first midtower has dual monitor functionality by virtue of a 19" monitor. The 19" monitor has double duty as it serves as the display for a laptop!

I have a wireless keyboard and mouse to enable me to control the main midtower while sitting opposite the machines and viewing HDTV, but I don't use them. If I need to control the computer, I switch to the 23" monitor and do it from there.